Gas-washing apparatus.



0. Hx ENSGN GAS WASHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION' FILED FEE/4,1908.

Patented sept. 14, '1909.

-has occurred cleaning of the gas,

- UNITED s'rarns Parnu erica.

ORVILL H. ENSIGN, OF MADISON,. WISCONSIN.

GASJASHING APPARATUS.

To 'all whom 'it may concern: I j Be it known that I, OnvILLn H. ENSIGN, a

citizen of .the UnitedA States, residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Gas-Washing Apparatus, of which the following 'is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means ucts from gas made from petroleum. The

i invention is applicable for washing other.

gas, and is also applicable for removing the soot from smoke. l

The principle of thisinvention is that I provide in a small compass a large surface on'ivhich the products may accumulate, and provide automatic means for removing the products after a considerable accumulation such removal being gradual and automatic so as to provide for a uniform regardless of the quantity which is passing up to the compass of the particular cleaner involved.

The invention comprises a gas-holder having a foraminous portion through which the gas may pass when freed from the impurities, as lamp-black, which this cleaner is to remove from the gas; said gas-holder being adapted to rise and fall as the gas pressure increases 'or decreases within the holder, and having an open bottom seated in a liquid seal` so that when the'exit of gas through said foraniinous portion is cut off, the gas pressure may lift and non-frictionally support it. The gasholder forms within a shell or chamber a screen-like partition upon which the accumulation may occur; said partition being Vsingle or manifold, as may be deemed advisable. and adapted to rotate under the impulse of jets or sprays of water driven against the same vfor the purpose of washing oil' the accumulation of by-prodnets; said partition being carried by the bead of the holder and antifrictionally .supported by the pressure of the gas similar to the rotatable element ofthe ordinary {rasholder, and may be guided by a vertical snat't in` suitable guide bearings. lf one screening of the gas proves insuliicient, more than one of the permeable holders may be provided, and the partially-puriiied gas from one. may be passed on to one or more other holders in series. if desired.

.\u object of this invention is to cause the deposits to 'Form on a. prz'letically vertical for removing the by-prod-y through the apparatus,

Specification of Letters Patent.

surface, from which they may be washed with a minimum amount of water rand with a maximum force of jet; provisionbeing at the same time made whereby the filtering barrier will be kept of a practically uniform density orfiltering capacity throughout its entire area. The screen may the force of a single jet or by tangentiallydirected cleaning jets, and its movement 'before lsuch jetl or jets will be regulated by making provision wherebyl when the vgas Hows too freely through the screen, friction occurs t slow down or stop the rotation 'of the screen, accumulations to occur washed off bythe cleansing jets. tion of the passage any time under the direct action of the cleansingjets is normally insufficient to allow the minimum product of thegas generatoreto pass therethrough, so that at all timesfwhile gas is being supplied t0 the interior of said holder, even when the apparatus is standing still, a quantity ofgas must before they are pass through portions of the screen' other than that which is being directly cleansed.

It is desirable to use for the walls-.fof the holder some form of a screen which is-so fine that it will let the gas through, but not ever so small a particle of soot; but if this cannot be found, then the screen may be constructed in such a way that after the first accumulation there is a. mat of carbon formed, through which the cleaning jets puncture small holes to let the gas through, and on this mat, carbon will more' readily deposit than it will on any other substance. And it may further be found necessary that the only way to produce such mat will be to place two rather-coarse wire-screens .a short distance apart on be rotated by so that more time is allowed for' The porfor the gas which is atl the outer partition, l

k rat-@atea sept'. 1a, ieee. Application filed February 4, 1908. Serial No. 414,280.' I

sol

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and till them with granular coke, having a.

dimension not greater than one-fourth of an inch for each grain', then in any case this will become covered with the soot from the gas until it. has practically closed oft' all means of gas passing in through the screen, or nearly so. When it has closed it off to such an extent that it offers suiicient resistance to produce a backpressure, it will lift the screen as a holder, and the screen will beginto revolve under the force of the jets; then if the jet did not clean the screen, the holder will gradually speed up and will run as a totally-tight, inverted tank perfectly will clean out a few places here and there,- presumably a large number of very small openings which will keep the pressure from rising any higher, and the screen will assume arate of rotation necessary to meet a certain pressure which may be'predetermined by the force of the jet, the total Weight of the screen, and the adjustment of a counterbalance weight, if any is found necessary. These elements oncepredetermined, give a {certain value tothe cleanliness of the gas.

AIt can" be readily seen that the easier the sc'teen will lift, the more readily it will turn, and `henceprobably freer and' more general over the whole'surface of the screen will be the openings through which the gas will pass. An object of this invention is to provide means whereby the foraininous holder is adapted to rotate under the action of the spray with minimum frictional resistance, and to avoid any contact of the foraminous wall with any impurities that maybe in the water-seal o r may ioat thereon', as scum; and also to allow comparatively-dry coatings of soot ,to occur on the vertical walls throughout a considerable portion of the holder, so that the tendency of said accumulations is to break off and fall readily from the weight lof the accumulations when the water is applied to the outside of the wall from a. direction reverse to that in which the `gas passes. That is to say, with this device no portion of the foraniinous Wall need be submerged, and the only water that is applied to said Wall is that of the spray which stri-kes the outside of the wall, thereby tending to loosen the holdl of the soot accumulating on the inside. y

In this invention provision is made for maintaining'a level of the water-seal close to the bottom of the holder, and the lower part of said holder which is submerged in the water-seal may be imperforate so that a comparatively small portion of the holder is in contact with the water-seal, and nearly all of the vertical walls of the holder are utilized for cleansing purposes. l

The accompanyil'ig drawings i] lustrate the invention in the form I at present deem sint plest and most desirable.

Figure-lis a brokenvertical axial section on line m1,' Fig. 24` the generator being shown l.unsectioned Fig. 2 is a broken plan, partly in section.

ldesignates a gas generator, and 2 any open-toppedcloniamer 'ftlnmingjthe outside 'shell of the l'gas-washer wllich is 'connected with the `generator ly by an inlet pipe 3 and is fitted with a false bottom' fl; to form lower land upper compartments a, o, in the first of which is provided a' cooling seal 5 of suitable liquid, as water, below the surface of/ `which the inlet pipe 3 opens, the same being provided around its outlet below the surface A overflow/seal 7. f

s l L I. I vof the seal with a horizontal foramlnous flange e to spread the inliowing, hot, impure land cause it to be disseminated through the cooling liquid.

G is a tubular passage communicating between the lower and upper compartments a and b, and 7 is an overflow sealfor the lower compartment a.

8 designates a gas-holder and purifier comprising an impervious top plate 9 adj ustably mounted by a collar d and a set-screw e on a centrally-arranged shaft 10, and having a foraminous vertical wall 1'1 which is preferably a very line screen connected to the top plate 9 by a circular angle-iron .12. The lower end of the screen-wall 11 is steadied and held in position by a circular angle-ring 13 whichis attached by spokes 14 to a hub 15 that is adjustably mounted on the shaft 10 by a set-screw f. 16 is a flange adjustably mounted by a' setscrew g on the shaft 10 to form a base therefor to rest on a block 17 carried by the false bottom or floor 4.

.The open top of the shell 2 is provided with a water'seal-trough 18 on the rim of which is supported a timber 19 that holds the shaft 10 upright', The opening in said timber through which the shaft extends upward, is sufliciently free'from the shaft to allow said shaft to rotate freely therein when occasion for such rotation occurs. y The edge of the plate S.) is formed in' vanes 20. These vanes terminate outside a cylinl drical collar 2l and are acted upon by a jet of suitable liquid, as water from a jet-piece 22, which discharges downward onto the vanes from which the liquid falls into the trough 1S to form liquid seal 23, for the collar 21,' to prevent escape of gas from the top compartment o. The collar 21 is of sufli,- cient diameter and depth to surround the top of the shell 2 and extend down into the seal 22B, the overflow of which passes over the top of the shell 2 and down into the bottom of said shelhwhere it assists in forming a liquid seal 24. into which angle-ring 13 extends to vprevent escape. of gas from thcgas` holder .CL except through the foraminous rertiral wall thereof.v

25 islan upright pipe provided with jetholes 2G for discharging upon the Vertical foran'iinous wall 1l in a 'vertical line a cleansing spray adapted to loosen und wash from the wall ll the soot which may adhere to the wall ai that place. The vertical pipe 25 is within the shell 2 and outside the holder tl, and the wash-\\'ater therefroi'n flows down into y,the bottom of the upper compartment L to assist in 'foraiing` the sealf245, the over.- llow from lwhich llows down k.through the-cylindrical passage (3' intothelower compart ment u lwhere it ftrufs/thefcooling seal 5 from whence the overflow passcslthivzp/'hgh the The upper endlot1 the tubular passage 6 is lower on the side thereof nearest the overlowseal 7, thus to concentrate the overflowA from the seal24 so asy to readily carry away the soot which is washedfromv the oraminous wall 11 by the spray from the holes 26.

327 and 28 designate valves to control the outflow from the jet-piece 22 and the spraypipe 25.` l

A 29 designates a box in which weights may be applied to give greater resistance to the 'lifting power of the gas in the holder 8, so that a requisite pressure of the S may be maintained the gas through the i'oraminous filtering wall 11 to be practically uniform all around the wall. The shaft 1t), spokes 1l, and the parts connected therewith, are preferably of metal, and their weight is approximately suicient for'this purpose, and the weightbox 29 is` supplied to allow the operator to addy to or take away therefrom more or less which it ,portion of said wall.

il() in the boX 29.

of the adjusting weight preferably arranged The spray-pipe 25 is -on the side of the container 2 opposite the outlet 31 from' the upper compartment b, so that the escape of gas from the verticallymovableholder 8 will have to pass around said holder, thus to equalize the-pressure around thc .wall 11 so that there will not/be an excessive flow of gas through the cleansed 32 designates a seal for the outlet 31.

In practical operation the gas from generator 1 `tlowsthrough the pipe 3 and cooling seal 5, where'it is cooled, and thence yit rises through the passage 6 intoI the holder ,8 fills and then passes outward through the fine screen 11. The soot carried by the gas isobstructed by and clogs the screen, and thereuponkthe pressure ot' the gas within the holder increases, thus balanct ing the weight of the holder, and thereby more freely from the holder.-

lessenmg the friction 'between the flanged foot 16 and the block .17 until the holder 8, actuatedby the jet from the jetpiece 22, begins to turn, whereupon the spray from the spray-pipe 25 cleanses to some extent the portion ot'- the wall 1'1 which passes in front of such spray, thereby allowing thev to escape This tends to lower the pressure and the lifting power of :the gas in the holder, whereupon the holder settles downward, thus applying and increasing` the friction'between the foot 16 and the block 17. thereby regulating the speed of rotation otl the holder, and consequently the `speed of cleaning the screen. The degree of cleaning can be adjusted by regulatingl the force of the jet from the jet-piece 22 'and by increasing or decreasing the weight 30 in .the weight-box 29. y

By thisl construction the major part of the torainiimus holder-wall 1 1 may bekept dry and rovereu ith a coating of dry soot upon gas in the holder to cause the flow vofvmoval of accumulationsy Aa gas'outlet. a rotatable which the accumulations of soot will rapidly form, thus producing a. lil'ter that is effect-ive to thoroughly remove the soot. By regulating the spray and'jet-and the amount ot the weight 80, the thickness ot' the deposit ot soot on the inside oi the walls ll may be adjusted so as to secure the most ettectivc operation and mostA rapid and thorough cleaning of the' gas.

ln Fig. 1 dotted lilies just above the holder and the weight-box indicate a position to which the holder may be lifted by the pressure ofthe within the same, but it is to be understood that'the antit'rictional support ot' theholder bythe gas to any degree may be sutticient to allowthe force of the .jet to rotate the holder, and that in some instances tue force ofthe gas may be great. enough to lift the Aholder bodily to the beam, whereupon ,the `collar Z engagingthe beam` 19 will prevent the holder from -loecomingunsealed. v As the pressure of/gas increases, the re' fromA the fora-mi nous portion automatically increases, and as such removal `ncreases, facilitated, and thereupon the pressure o gas in the holder decreases and a retardation of the holder is then cltected until the amount of accumulation and removal becomes balanced; or until complete stoppage of rotation by reason of the rictional support otl the holder, or until an increase of outflow of gas creates an increase of accumulations, whereupon the holder will again, rise under increased pressure of gas therein, and so become again subject to speedy rotation andrapid cleansing,- and so on.

I claim I 1. A gas washer comprising a sl ll, an open-bottomed gas holder constructe toI be moved up and down and provided with a' foraminous wall, a liquid seal for the holder,

means to' supply gas to theyholder, means to Wash soot from the holder,'al1l1d'means to rotate the holder upon the same being supported by the gas therein.

2. A gas washer comprising a holder pro.

vided with foraminous walls, a frictional support therefor. means for washing accumulations therefrom at one place, aint means t'or automatically rotating the holder when .antii'rictionally supported by ythe gastherein.

3. A {vasher comprisingifcontainer` a rotatable gas holder therein having a verticall foraininous wall, means tor passinggas into said holder and through said wall, and jet meansl outside ot' the gas holder for loosening and washingaccumulations from said wall as the gas holder rotated.

f-l. A shell provided with a gas inlet and gas holder in the shell arranged to receive gas troni said inlet and provided with a vertical foraminous wall to supply gas to said outlet, and means outside of the gas holder for removing acemnulations from said Wall as it is rotated.

A gas washer comprising a gas holder adapted tube moved up and down and provided with a cylindrical foraminous wall, means to supplyv gas to the inside of said holder, means to automatically rotate said holder. and means to apply a spray to wash accumulations from the wall ot said holder.

A gas' washer comprising4 a shell provided with a compartment and a. tubular inlet into said eomliartment., an outlet from said compartment, a seal in said compart- 'ment, a gas holder-in'said compartment provided with a foraminous wall, and adapted to move up and down in said seal and extendingI t-hereabove, means to.' supply a spray to cleanse, the wall at one `portion thereof, and meansI for rotating* the holder upon the same being raised by the. pressure of thel gas therein.

.7. A gas washer comprising a container having superposed compartments, a tubular passage between said compartments to form a seal retainer in the upper compartment, a

sealed overtlow for the lower compartment,

a sealed outlet 'for the upper compartment., a seal trough around rthe rim ot the container, 'an inlet to supply gas to the lower compa rtment, a holder over said passage provided with 'a foraminons wall in the upper compartment`. and with an impervious top' extendingv outside the container, a seal between said top and the rim of the container, a seal for the lower end of the holder, means ter removing' accnmulatiolis From the holder, and means for autonnltically rotating' the holder to canse such removal to occur at different portions of said wall.

8. A gas washer comprising,` a container having two conuaartments, a passage between said compartments, a seal in the upper conipartinent, a seal overl'low for the lor-.fer conipartment. a seal outlet for the upper compartment, an inlet to supplygas to the lower com]iartment. a holder provided with. a toraniinons wall in the upper compartment. and with an impervious top, a seal between the impervious top and the rim of the container. means for moving' accumulations from the holder, and means for automatically rotating the holder lo canse such removal to occur at different portions o'l" said 'all.

9. A gas washer comprising!v a holder having a foraminousI wall and an impervious top, an open-top container for said holder, a seal between the top of the holder and the rim oit the container, a seal in ,the container for the bottom of the holder, means to supply gas to the inside of the holder, a gas outlet from the container, and means to removeaccumulations from the holder.

1t). A gas Washer comprising a holder havgasses ing a foraininous wall andanl impervious top,'an open-top container for said holder,

'a seal between the top of the holder and the rim ot the container, a seal in the container for the bottom ot' the holder, means to snpply gras to the inside oi the holder, a outlet from the com'aimr, means to remove accumulations vtrom the holder, a trictional support 't'or the holder, and means to rotate the holder to increase such removal when the friction oi said support is lessened.

1.2. A gas washer comprisingr a holder having' a foramiuous wall and an' impervious top, an open-top container for said holder, a seal. between the top of the holder .and the .rim of the container, a seal in the container vl'o-r the bottomof the holder, means to supply g'as to the inside-of the holder, a gas outlet-.from the container, means to remove accumulations from. the holder, a. frictional support for the holder, vanes on said holder, and a jet-piece to discharge liquid onto said vanos to rotate the `holderwhen the friction of said su pport is lessened.

13. A vasher comprising a holder having' a foraminous wall and an impervious top, an open top container for said holder, a-seal between the top of the holder and the rim ofv the container, a seal in the container t'or the bottom' ot the holder, means to supply `gas to the inside of the holder, a gas outlet. :t'rom the container, and means to project. a spray to remove accumulations from a" portion ot' said holder, and means to rotate the holder to cause such removal to occur at different places thereon. t l-l. A gras 'ashcrcon'iprisingr aholderhaw ingr a 'toraminous wall and an impervious top` an open-top container for said holder, a seal bei ween the top of the holder and the rim of the container, a seal in the container 'l-'or the bottom ot' the holder, means to snpply gas to the inside of the holder,- a gas outlet -trom the container', means to project a supra)7 to remove accumulations from a. por tion ot said holder, a trictional support for the holder. and means to rotate the holder when the friction oi said support lessened.

15. A gas washer comprisingr aholder havingr a foraminous wall and an impervious top, anr open-top container for said holder, a seal between the top ofthe holder and the rim of the container, a seal in the container for the bottom of the holder, means to lsupply gas to the inside of the holder, a gas outlet from the container, a trictional support for the holder, means to project a spray to remove accumulations from a portion of said holder', and means to rotate the holder when the friction of said support is lessened.

16. A gas Washer comprising a holder ha v- -ing a foraminous wall and an impervious top, an open-top container for said holder,

' the holder when the friction of said support is-l lessened.

-' 17. A gas Washer.comprisingv a verticallynovable holder `having a foraminous Wall and an impervious top, an open-top containerffor said holder, a seal between the top of the holder and the rim of the container', a'seal in the container for the bottom of 'the holder, means to supply gas to the inside of the holder, a gas outlet from the container, and means to removeaccumulations from -the holder.

18. vA washer comprising a verticallyvvmovable holder havinga foram'inous Wall and an impervious top, an open-top container for said holder, a seal between the top ot'lthe holderand the rim of the container, a seal inthe container for the bottom of the holder, means to supply gas to the inside of the holder, a gas outlet from the container, means to-remove accumulations tronrtheholder, and means to rotate the holder to cause such removal to occur at different places thereon.

.19. A gas yasher comprising a verticallymovable holder having a foraminous Wall and an impervious top, an open-top container for said holder, a seal between the top of the holder and the rim of the container, a seal in the container, for the bottom ot the holder, means to supply gas to the inside of the holder, a gas outlet from the container, means to remove accumulations from the holder, a frictional support for the holder, and means to rotate the holder to increase such r .moval upon lessening of the rictionof` sai support.

`20. A gas Washer comprising a verticallymovable holder having a t'oraminous Wall. and an .impervious top, an open-top container for said holder, a seal between the top of the holder and the rim of the con-. tailler, a `seal in the container for the bottom ot' the holder, means to supply gas to the inside of the holder, a gas outlet from the container. means to remove accumulations from the holder, a frictional support for the holder, vanes on said holder and a jet-piece to dischargev liquid onto said vanes to rotate the holder upon lessenmg of the-friction of said support.

2l. A washer comprising a verticallymovable holder having a oraminous y'all and an impervious top, an open-top container for said holder, a seal between the lop of the holder and the rim of the container, a seal in the container for the bottom ot the holder, means to supply. gas to the inside of the holder, a gas outlet from the container, means to project a spray to remove accumulations t'rom a portieri of said holder, and means to rotate the holder to cause such removal to occur at dillerent places thereon.

22. A gas Washer comprising a vertically- .movable holder having a foraminous Wall and an lmpervlous t-op, an open-top con.

tainer for said holder', a seal between the 'top of the holder and the rim of the container,

-a seal in the container for the bottom of the holder, means to supply as to the inside of the holder, a gas outlet trom the container,

means to project a spray to remove accumulations'from a portion of said holder, a frictional support for the holder, and means to rotate the holder upon lessening of the friction of said support.

23. A gas Washer comprising a verticallymovable holder having a foraminous wall and an impervious top, an open-top container for said holder, a seal between the top of the holder and the rim of the 4container, a seal in the container for the bottom of the holder, means to supply gas to the inside of the holder, a gas outlet-from the container, a trictional support for the holder, means to project a spray to remove accumulations from a portion of said holder,

les

and means to rotatethe holder upon lessening4 of the friction of said support.

kA gas Washer comprising a verticallymovable holder having a oraminons Wall and an impervious top, adjustable means to depressthe holder, an open-top container for said holder, a seal between the top of the holder and the rim of the container, a seal-in the container for thc bottonil 'of the holder, means tosup'ply gas to the inside of the holder, a gas outlet from the container, and means to remove accumulations from the holder.

25. A gas Washer comprisinga verticallymovable holder having' a iioraminous wall and an impervious top, adjustable means to depress vthe holder, an open-top container' ydepress the holder, an open-top container for said holder, a seal between the top of the holder and the rim of the container, a sea'l in the container for the bottom of the holder, means to supply gas tothe inside of the holder, a gas outlet lfrom the container, means to remove accumulations from the holder, a frietional support for the holder, and means torotate the holder to increase such removal when the friction of said support is lessened.

27. A gas washer c omprising a verticallymovable holder having a foraminous wall and an impervious top, adjustable means to depress the holder, an open-top container for said holder, a seal between the top of the holder and the rim of the container, a seal in the container for the vbottom of the holder, means to supply gas to the inside ofthe holder, a gas outlet Afrom the container, means to remove accumulations. from the holder, a frictional support for the holder, vanes'on said holder, and a jet-piece to discharge liquid onto said vanes to rotate the holder when the friction of said support is lessened.

28. A gas washer comprising a verticallymovable holder havingl a foraminous Wall and an impervious top, adjustable means to depress the holder, an open-top container for said holder, a seal between the top of the holder and the rim of the container, a seal iii the container for the bottom of the holder, means to supply gas tothe inside ofthe holder, a gas outlet from theA container, means to project a spray to remove accumulations from a portion of said holder, and means to rotate the holder to cause such removal to occur at different places. thereon.

29. A Jgas washer comprising a verticallymovable holder having a foraminous wall and an impervious top, adjustable means to depress the holder, an .open-top container 'for said holder, a seal between the top of the holder and the rim of the container, a seal in the container for the bottom of the holder, means to supply as to the inside of the holder, a gas outlet rom the container, means to project aspray to removeaccuinulations from a portion of' said holder, a frictional support for the holder, and means to rotate lthe holder when the friction of said su pport\is lessened. v

30. A gas washer comprising a verticallymo 1able holder havingv a foraminous wall and 4an impervious top, adjustable means to depress the holder, an open-top container for said holder, a seal betiveen the top of the holder and the rim oi the container, a seal in the container for the bottom ot' the holder,

means to supply gas' to the .inside of the holder, a gas outlet from the container, a frictional sunoort for the holder, means to project a spray to remove accumulations from a portion of said holder, and means to rotate the holder upon lessening of the fric-v a frietiona'l support, means to supply gas to .the holder, means to remove accumulations from a foraminous portion of sain holder, variablemeans to depressthe holder, and means to rotate the holder noon lessening of the friction or' said support.

33. A gas Washer comprising a verticallymovable holder having a frietional support and a foraminous xwortion'for passage of gas, means to supnly n'as to the holder, means to remove accumulations from part of the foraminous portion, and means to r0tatethe` holder' to increase the area subject to such removal upon lessennig of or avoidance of the t'rietion of said support.

34. A gas washer comprising a holder having a vertical foraininous port-ion, spraying means to remove accumulations from a part of such vforaminons portion, and means -to rotate the holder.

A gas washer comprising a holder having a. foraminons portion, spraying 'means to remove accumulations from a part of such portion, means to cause rotation of the ,holder when the same is gas-sllll'ported, and fmeans toretard sncli rotation upon lesseinng of such'` support.

36. A gas washer comprising a holder having 'a Aforaiiiinous portion to gather accumu lations from gas escaping therefrom, means for. removing` suoli accumulations, and means for automatically increasing and decreasing such `removal as the pressure of gas in the holder increases` and decreases.

37. A gas washer comprising a holder having al foraminous portion, means to rotate the holder, means to remove accumulations "from the fora'minous holder as the same rotates, and means for retarding. or stopping -such rotation on a rbduction of the pressure within the holder.

In testimony whereof, l have hereuntoset my hand at Madison, Visconsiin this 13th day of January, 1908. Y

ORVILLEl H. ENSIGN.

In presence of- M. A. Kincounsn, A. Il. Arcas.

.Aan 

